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FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to sell stakes in the organisation’s competitions to private investors is now facing a serious threat after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) became the third confederation to publicly oppose the plan.
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In a statement released on Friday, the AFC said it stands in solidarity with UEFA and CONCACAF, both of which have already voiced opposition to the proposal in recent days. The confederation argued that the plan could not realistically achieve the broad consensus required to move forward.
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“The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of global football and derives its strength from the participation of all Confederations and the world’s leading football nations,” the AFC said. “Any proposal that risks undermining the unity and universal character of the competition must be reconsidered.”
July 31, (THEWILL) — The development significantly weakens Infantino’s chances of getting the proposal approved by FIFA’s member associations. Infantino had indicated the plan would require a straight majority to pass, meaning 106 of FIFA’s 211 members would need to vote in favour.
With UEFA controlling 55 votes, CONCACAF 35, and the AFC 46, a combined bloc vote from all three confederations would put 136 nations against the proposal, well above the threshold needed to block it, even without factoring in positions from CAF or CONMEBOL.
Beyond the numbers, the AFC’s statement raised deeper concerns about how FIFA arrived at the proposal in the first place. The confederation accused FIFA of once again setting the “direction of travel” on a major initiative without first consulting its stakeholders, saying the episode had exposed fundamental weaknesses in FIFA’s consultation and decision-making processes that must now be addressed.
The AFC also said the lack of consultation had left confederations, member associations, and even FIFA’s own governing bodies, including the FIFA Council, feeling sidelined.
“The FIFA World Cup, and the game itself, belong to the entire global football family”, the statement continued. “Their future must always be shaped collectively, through institutions that reflect the voices of all Confederations and member associations.”
The confederation called on FIFA to carry out an urgent review of its governance and decision-making framework to ensure that proposals of global significance are developed through proper consultation, meaningful engagement, and appropriate oversight by FIFA’s statutory bodies.
The growing resistance from three major confederations puts Infantino under mounting pressure over a plan he has defended as a means of unlocking new revenue for football’s development. It also comes at a time when the proposal has found some support within Africa’s football family, with former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick backing the plan on Arise Television, arguing that member associations, including Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, stand to benefit from an additional $20 million each under the arrangement.
Whether that support holds as more confederations weigh in could prove decisive for how far Infantino’s ambitions are able to travel.
